The Path

Checkered experiences
Build a path towards tomorrow.
Gentle shadows of memories
Create a respite from the scorching harshness.
Streaks of Joy bring in
Brightness to show us the way ahead
Lumbering footsteps
Change pace to a quick step.
A renewed desire surges
Bringing us even closer .
The blurred horizon at the yonder
Seems a little more defined .
Then the path takes another turn
And Life just goes on right ahead …

Passion

The door
Stood slightly ajar.
In an attempt to shield from prying eyes.

The chiffon
Peeked from round the corner.
Shyly blushing a deeper pink.

The trouser
Had followed boldly,
And now lay in a crumpled heap.

The entwined fingers
Snuggled deep into the
Gently heaving navel.

The lips rested
On the back of the nape.
Rhythmic breath whistling of dreams.

The voile curtains
Swayed ecstatic in the breeze
Billowing in the wafting emotions.

The errant sunbeam crept in
Surreptitiously to deepen
The flush on the glowing, moist skin.

The night of the storm had passed.

THE JOURNEY.

Frail, tired, withered and old .....

Resting on a limb

He reached out

For a moment to hold

A vague memory of

Youthful glory

Still lingering in

The faded wrinkles.

Then letting go

With quiet resignation

He continued with gravity

Till he was one

With

From whence he had sprung.

Colored Pains

The warmth of the setting sun
Slipped in through the glass
Of the doorway of the past .
To rock his chair a little gently
Setting in motion his dalliance
With the colorful shadows of Memories.


Green.
The firmness of grapes
Ripening a little
Juicy but tart.
Her favorite fruit.


Yellow.
A burst of Summer
Tinting the gossamer wings
Of flitting butterflies.
The glow on her joyous face.


Blue .
A meandering river
Reflecting the clear skies
With pleats of clouds.
The six yards of her sari.


White.
Brilliant and lethal.
Dazzling beams of
An errant headlight.
Her pallid face drained with fear.

Red.
A traditional dot.
Marking her love
For him eternally.
Washed away by the growing trickle. ...............


The rhythm of the chair
Came to a standstill
As the colors seeped out
From under the doorway
Along with the setting sun.

A SAGA

Her ethereal beauty, a parallel unseen
She was dressed in a leafy green.
With her smile bloomed a thousand flowers
Her scented breath every being overpowers.
Her flowing tresses mirrored the blue skies
Bringing forth a murmur of sighs.
So smitten was he by her beauty
He honoured their marriage as a solemn duty.

The early days were so full of care and love
It seemed like the gods were smiling from above.
He gave back as much, of the love he got.
Attentive to each other’s needs, rarely they fought.
She gave him fruit of her labour and quenched his thirst
And he made sure that what he took, he replenished first.
They showed and expressed their love in a thousand ways
But so short lived were those wonderful honeymoon days .

But soon a subtle change came about him
Becoming self-centred and he was moody on a whim.
He ravaged her heart and called it “mine”
He drew power from her tresses and thought himself Divine.
He destroyed her beautiful leafy green veil.
Leaving her protective blue, with a riddled trail.
To the very beauty that had enamoured him so
He now lay to waste every bit, blow by blow.

Her broken heart quaked in tremulous pain
Her anguished wails raised a tempest again.
The oceans rose with her tears of sadness
Saline rebellion at his unbelievable madness
Her once scented breath, now polluted and grey
Hung low and suffocating , taking his away !
Her veil now torn and cast asunder
Scorched his lands and him for his blunder .

To keep alive he wrestled in vain
Gasping for water and craving for grain.
What was once so green now lay all yellow
Stretches of barren arid and fallow.
Unmoved by him or even the bird or the bee
She turned a deaf ear to their impassioned plea.
Hell has no fury like a woman scorned
She raved and ranted while the whole world mourned.
If only he could assuage and cool her down
If only he could smooth the wrinkles of her frown.
If only he could undo the harm of before
If only he could her calm restore.
If only he could quieten her whimpers of gloom
If only he could prevent his own doom.
If only he could beloved Nature remind
If only he could be a genuine Man Kind.
If only he could ..
If only we could.....
If only we would .................



Its a long one I agree .... but so is our relationship with Nature/ Environment.
Let's find a way to get back our harmony.

The Raindrop.

A drop
Petered down to the sill .
I wondered if it would
The water table fill .

A drop
Pattered down the pane.
I wondered if it would
ease the farmer's barren pain.


A drop
Bubbled down to the Earth
I wondered if it would
Bloom a bud in joyful mirth.


A drop
Trickled over the water pipe
I wondered if it would
Wet the inside and our tears wipe .

A drop
Burst the bubble of comfort
I wondered if it would
Quench a parched throat that hurt.

A drop
Drizzled now and again
I wondered if it would
Finally be the Monsoon then ?


N.B.
A large part of India was declared drought stricken due to the delay of the Monsoons.
Grey rain bearing clouds would hang low over the city but would do no more than tease the parched hopeful throats dry from 40% water cuts and power shutdowns which were the order of the day .
These environmental changes have been put down to Global Warming and are said to be ominous indications of times to come.

Liberation.

On an impulse she had taken the bus.

And landed at the beach, after office, thus.

He was touring and in another city

But wasting a lovely evening would be such a pity.

She walked barefoot, her work shoes in hand

As a gentle breeze toyed with an errant strand.

The setting sun painted the skies with its glow

And she reviewed her life like a rerun show .

Sweet nothings, caresses and happy tears ...

Changed to angry words , distances and niggling fears.

She casually glanced at folks nursing their sun downer

When she suddenly spied her touring out-of-towner !!

As she watched them holding hands and passionately kissing

Her feet turned cold and her disbelieving heart went missing.

Sick and dizzy as Betrayal took her on a choppy ride

She returned to Calm with the incoming tide.

Her throat was dry and her eyes a tear stained red.

But an inexplicable lightness swirled in her head.

Despair and anger gave way to a new emotion.

Changing the situation from Betrayal to Liberation.

For Writer's Island Prompts : Impulse / Betrayal / Liberation.

16th May 2008.